RAMALLAH, Palestine

The Palestine-Turkey Friendship Hospital in Gaza began operating as part of efforts to curb the novel coronavirus, Palestine’s government said Tuesday.

Palestinian government spokesman Ibrahim Melhim said President Mahmoud Abbas and his Turkish counterpart, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, agreed during a telephone call to start operations at the hospital.

Melhim expressed Palestine's gratitude for Turkey's continuous efforts to support Palestine.

Funded by the Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency (TIKA), the construction of the 180-bed hospital was completed in 2017.

Palestinian authorities confirmed 117 virus cases, including 10 in the Gaza Strip.

Gaza's health system has been delimitated by Israel's 13-year blockade amid a severe shortage of medicines and equipment.

*Bassel Ibrahim contributed to this report from Ankara